A leading scientist has revealed that incorporating one simple item into your daily breakfast routine can significantly lower the risk of developing deadly bowel cancer.
Justin Stebbing, Professor of Biomedical Sciences at Anglia Ruskin University, shared his insights on The Conversation website, highlighting a recent study that suggests this breakfast staple may offer protection against cancer.
The medical community is growing increasingly concerned about the sharp rise in colorectal cancer cases among individuals under 55, with global rates doubling in recent years. Diet is believed to be a major contributing factor, particularly the increasing consumption of ultra-processed foods.
According to Prof Stebbing, "As a consultant oncologist, many people have asked me how their risk can be reduced."
He explained: "The emerging evidence suggests that regular yoghurt consumption may have a protective effect against certain aggressive forms of colorectal cancer by modifying the gut microbiome, the natural bacteria that live in the gut," reports Surrey Live.
"The gut microbiome plays a crucial role in overall health, influencing digestion, immune function and even cancer risk.
"The gut bacteria can live inside cancer itself, and in general a healthy balance of these bacteria is thought to be essential for maintaining a strong immune system and preventing inflammation, which can contribute to cancer development."
Prof Stebbing believes yoghurt could be beneficial in cancer prevention due to its content of live cultures of good bacteria, such as lactobacillus bulgaricus and streptococcus thermophilus, which help maintain a healthy balance in the gut.
He explained: "The study found that consuming two or more servings of yoghurt per week was associated with a lower risk of a specific type of aggressive colorectal cancer, which occurs on the right side of the colon and is associated with poorer survival outcomes compared with cancers on the left side."
The research involved an analysis of data from over 150,000 individuals tracked for several decades, suggesting that long-term yoghurt consumption might influence the gut microbiome in ways that offer protection against certain types of cancer.
Participants were questioned every two years regarding their yoghurt consumption, and researchers also examined the levels of Bifidobacterium (a bacterium present in yoghurt) in the tumour tissue of 3,079 participants who developed colorectal cancer.
Although yoghurt consumption did not reduce the risk for all forms of colorectal cancer, those who ate at least two servings of yoghurt weekly showed a decreased risk of developing "Bifidobacterium-positive proximal colon cancer", a particularly aggressive form of cancer located on the right side of the colon with one of the lowest survival rates.
Nutritional expert Prof Tim Spector, the brains behind the Zoe app, swears by yoghurt as a staple in his diet "most days of the week" for its benefits to gut health – a key player in digestion and maintaining a robust immune system.
Tim shared: "For yoghurts I never go for fat-free products. I don't like the taste of them and they're not good for my sugar spikes either."
He also noted in his video caption: "By choosing fat containing yoghurts I feel fuller for longer and I also prefer the taste."
Yoghurt is packed with calcium, making it a champion for bone health and a fighter against osteoporosis. Regularly indulging in yoghurt has been linked to lower blood pressure and a decreased risk of heart disease.
Some research even hints that it could ward off type 2 diabetes and other illnesses.
According to the 2024 National Cancer Registry of Ireland (NCRI) report, 2,500 men and women are diagnosed with bowel cancer in Ireland every year, 1,452 men and 1,047 women.
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